3.24.2011

Epiphany Cellars Tasting Tonight at Downtown's Corkbar

About three years ago on a trip to Santa Ynez Valley's charming wine-tasting town of Los Olivos, we happened upon a tasting room pouring wines from Epiphany Cellars. We knew nothing about the vineyard, the winemaker or the various vintages, but over the course of an hour and a half proceeded to learn that Epiphany Cellars was the family-owned sister brand to Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard. We also learned that we loved the wine, particularly a 2007 Sangiovese called "Tessa Marie." More specifically, it was a varietal named after Tessa Marie Parker (Fess' daughter, I believe?) and it became one of our favorites of the trip. Given that we had a cooler in the car already packed with other wines (had we only known!), we made an executive decision to only buy two bottles of the Tessa Marie to take home. It's a decision I've regretted ever since, simply because the wine has been impossible to find (even on subsequent trips to the tasting room).

Epiphany's Tasting Room in Los Olivos, CA

I don't want you to make the same mistake that I did, which I why I'm so excited that Corkbar, a California wine country-inspired wine bar in downtown L.A., is hosting a meet-and-greet and tasting with Epiphany Cellars' very own Kris Parker TONIGHT from 6-9 p.m.! No, my beloved Tessa Maria Sangiovese won't be on the tasting menu, but a Tessa Marie white wine and four other Parker family handcrafted vintages will be. For $15/person, you'll get a flight of the five vintages and the chance to chat up winemaker Kris Parker, son of Epiphany Cellars Founder Eli Parker and also grandson of legendary Hollywood actor Fess Parker. Not a bad family tree, eh?

Corkbar's Minimalist Interior

The wines include:

’09 Epiphany Grenache Blanc

’09 Epiphany “Tessa Marie” Vermentino

’08 Fess Parker “Ashley’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir

’06 Epiphany “Gypsy” (Rhône blend)

’07 Epiphany “Revelation” (Rhône blend)

Now you can't just have wine without some grub, and Corkbar's Executive Chef Albert Aviles has created a pairing menu filled with Banh Mi sliders ($15); spice-crusted pork chop with chilled Israeli couscous and asparagus ($14); and a Mediterranean lamb sandwich with roasted leg of lamb, cucumber, mint, onion & Feta ($16).

All you have to do now and is head to Corkbar and eat, drink and be happy.